Watch: Jalen Suggs shuts down Blazers comeback with Magic in thick of playoff hunt
When the Magic almost blew a game and their chances at securing home-court advantage in the first round, Jalen Suggs stepped up.
Suggs absolutely blanketed Scoot Henderson on Portland’s final possession, and his relentless defensive pressure sending the rookie point guard to the floor. Henderson made a desperate pass to DeAndre Ayton, who whiffed on a jumper as time expired in Orlando’s 104-103 win.
The Magic have one of the easiest remaining schedules of any playoff team, but nearly blew one of their best chances at a win against the 19-56 Trail Blazers, who have lost two games this year by 60 or more points.
After taking a nine-point lead with three minutes left, the Magic allowed a 10-2 run from the Blazers.
Orlando has the league’s second-best defense, and Portland has the second-worst offense, but the Magic simply couldn’t handle the scoring of Dalano Banton in the second half. He finished with his sixth game of 25-plud points in the last four weeks — not bad for a player the Boston Celtics paid the Blazers to take in February.
Suggs, though, came up big when it mattered most.
With Orlando now sitting a game back of the Cleveland Cavaliers and a half-game back of the New York Knicks, the team has a golden opportunity to move from the No. 5 seed to the No. 4 or even No. 3 seed. The Magic do have to play Milwaukee twice in their last three games, but the Bucks will likely have the No. 2 seed wrapped up by then.
Both the Cavs and the Knicks are dealing with rosters hit with multiple injuries while the Magic are enjoying great health, even from oft-injured contributors Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac.
Suggs didn’t just save the game. He saved Orlando’s hopes of grabbing third or fourth place — and home-court advantage for at least one round.
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